Thursday, October 28, 2010

TriMet union workers picket board meetingFor the second time in a week, union drivers and mechanics publicly protested TriMet’s decision to make them pay into the cost of their medical benefits and freeze their pay.

That first sentence says it all. Government workers have been so spoiled that paying a health care premium is outrageous in their minds.

I feel bad for the 1% of commuters who like to take three times as long to arrive at their destination if this strike actually happens.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Took the day off and went duck hunting. To support my hobby I pay the tax on the shotgun, the tax on the shells, the hunting license, the waterfowl validation, the waterfowl stamp, the hunting application fee, the parking permit and the hunting permit fee.

In order to be motivated to change their behavior, community members must understand the effects of their transportation choices on overall greenhouse gas emissions and the available alternatives to the single occupant vehicle.(page 34)

19.2. Enact a local ordinance to increase waste recovery rates from commercial and multi-family buildings.(page 40)

Your government is going to "educate" you with ordinances, legislation, building codes, taxes, incentives, your electricity supply, your food supply, and the way your cities and neighborhoods are organized.

Your government will force you to comply with their idea of what you should eat, what you should drive and how you should live.

Your government is coming for your behavior because they don't like your lifestyle choices and they don't like your freedom.

Your government wants to achieve "social equity" for the unwashed masses through control of every aspect of our lives. It will be much fairer when everyone has the same small house.

Individualized Travel Behavior ChangeThe purpose of an individualized travel behavior change program is to reduce vehicle miles traveled through one-on-one contact with participants in a specific geographical area or in a targeted group.

Organizations deliver local transportation information to the target group such as employees, seniors, or students and provide assistance to the participants in exploring travel alternatives.

If you don't work for government then you are in the targeted group. Look forward to that "one-on-one" time with a bureaucrat who has decided to get you to walk to work in the rain.

Monday, October 25, 2010

I'm seeing an ad for Ron Wyden where a guy talks about how Ron Wyden "brought the research funding" for a private company that allows it to make a product which is "cheaper, smaller" than their competitors product.

Maybe it's cheaper because you used taxpayer dollars for your R&D you dimwit.

If you can't get private investors to buy into your business plan without taxpayer assistance then maybe your product isn't the whiz bang device you claim it is.

And what about your competitors jobs? Did they not get the almighty blessing of Sir Senator Ron Wyden The Great? Did your unfair advantage put them out of business?

Ron Wyden didn't create any jobs, he mucked with the free market, a system which has proven to create the best product at the cheapest price.

Maybe next Wyden can give taxpayer funds to Motorola to make a phone that is smaller and cheaper than their competitors products.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

The Ducks game is a blowout so I came back to the computer after my earlier post.

I read CAUSA's blog most days and as usual I'm amused at how indefensible their positions are.

The most recent post is regarding illegal aliens and voter fraud. CAUSA insists that it isn't happening. This is like a sex offender advocacy group insisting that their members always register when they get out on parole. Who cares? You are still rapists!

The next post is applauding the head of DHS, Bruce Goldberg. CAUSA gives him this reward because as they say "[m]ore than fifty percent of Latinos in Oregon are uninsured." Hooray, our members are all deadbeats, is not exactly a rallying cry in my book.

This is what happens when you defend criminal aliens, you are forced to take absurd positions such as "when illegal aliens steal your SSN they are paying into a system that they won't be able to use!" as if that makes the fraud more palatable to the victim.

Tri-Met employee highlight: Making a differenceWhether he’s helping a Spanish-speaking rider over the phone, mingling with riders on board a bus, or working with community partners, Martín González—TriMet’s limited English proficiency outreach coordinator—uses his finely-tuned voice of advocacy to help others.

I started a search to see what else I could find out about Martin Gonzalez and his salary and one of my first Google results came from a very reputable source: myself.

I forgot that back in January of 2008 I reported how $500,000 was being spent on this outreach to our non-English speaking friends.

I'm so glad to hear that Mr. Gonzalez is still at the public trough and helping keep Tri-Met crime free. No wait, that would be a security guard. I'm glad that Mr. Gonzalez is helping criminal aliens navigate our taxpayer funded transit system.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Another video from last weekends illegal alien child exploitation march in Salem.

They wouldn't be doing this if they didn't think that this was a serious issue. Anchor babies are not politically untouchable because American citizens, who are the government, don't like the current situation.

Politically correct politicians may think it's a toxic issue but they won't work for us much longer.

Note: Unqualified ineligible noncitizens are referred to as NC1: qualified ineligible noncitizens are referred to as NC2.

The income of households with noncitizens is calculated differently based on their alien status. For noncitizens who are not qualified, e.g., foreign students, tourists, or people who are undocumented or who overstayed their visa, a share of their income is excluded. The income is prorated, in order to exclude the noncitizen member’s share. This calculation also applies to households with members who are unable or unwilling to provide the documentation about their immigration status. This category of noncitizens is identified as NC1.

Example:A three-person filing group consists of two citizens and one noncitizen who is not eligible for SNAP. The noncitizen pays the $300 per month rent and heating costs for the household. $300 divided by 3 people = $100 share per person. One person is ineligible, so subtract $100 from the $300 and allow the remaining $200 as a shelter deduction for the eligible members. The FUA is allowed as the utility cost. For the same example, if a citizen and the noncitizen were pooling their money to pay the costs, you would prorate only the noncitizen's share. With pooled funds, assume each person pays $150 of the rent. Allow the $150 paid by the citizen. Prorate the NC1's share ($150 ÷ 3 in the filing group = $50 x 2 in the benefit group = $100) for a total Shel deduction of $250. Because utilities are not prorated, allow the FUA.

I had a big long writeup of how I think this works but I deleted it because it's very complex. The simple version is that the state of Oregon knowingly gives illegal aliens welfare. That is all.

Saturday, October 09, 2010

Stimson Lumber CEO: Oregon on "skull and crossbones list"Miller said he had just returned from an annual meeting that Home Depot hosts for its suppliers, and he explained, as the CEOs and other executives talked with each other, how their "perception of Oregon is incredibly negative."

"It isn't that the marginal tax rate is 100 basis points higher in this state than in that state," Miller added. "It's just an attitude around the political leadership that says, 'You just owe us more, and we expect you to do more.'"

...Miller took a whack at House Speaker Dave Hunt, D-Gladstone, saying that "guys like Dave Hunt doesn't want to know me. They're not interested in me, they're not interested in anything I do. But they assume people like me get up in the orning and put capital at risk, hiring people, paying bills, just so they can raise our taxes one more time."

Whether you are PGE, McDonald's, or Stimson Lumber at some point I wonder when you will simply "shrug" and decide that you are on strike.

Turn off the power, stop providing health insurance and quit making lumber. See if Dave Hunt or Barrack Obama can provide what these businesses always did before the endless government harassment.

Employment doesn't happen to provide job statistics for politicians to brag about, employment happens because someone needs help to provide a product or service and you have a willing employer and willing employee.

Health insurance isn't provided as a charity, it's part of a willing employees compensation package from a willing employer.

Companies don't exist to provide taxes to the public sector, government is a necessary evil which we provide with funds to secure our liberties.

Friday, October 08, 2010

New initiative aims to support Latino studentsPortland State President Wim Wiewel on Monday anounced a new program, known as Éxito, to recruit, support and graduate Latino students, who currently make up 5 percent of the student body at PSU.

In 2009, Wiewel assembled a task force in order to increase the number of Latino students in higher education. Last June, it released a report outlining key recommendations to achieve this goal, including creating a Latina/o Alumni Association and holding college information sessions for Latino youth and their families.

According to Wiewel, the university is committing $350,000 to the initiative, $250,000 of which will come from the university's funds. The other $100,000 will come from the PSU Foundation.

Dr. Perla Rodriguez, the principal of Cornelius Elementary School in Forest Grove, said that over 80 percent of the school's student body is Hispanic. Though Rodriguez was born in Oregon, her family moved to the U.S. from Mexico.

According to Rodriguez, ethnic students must learn to navigate two cultures at an early age, especially if they wish to succeed academically. However, this often causes conflict, especially when values clash.

I almost did this story as a parody where every time the article said "Latino" I was going to put "Asian" or "Irish."

I can't stand it when school administrators like Dr. Rodriguez insist that all Latinos are dealing with two cultures. Itspits in the face of American citizenswho get treated like they are different because they happen to have brown skin.Our government has an obligation to treat people as individuals with it's public policy.

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Recall in 2004 what David Wu said about the college attempted rape accusations where it was alleged that he attacked a girl and "tried to stifle her screams with a pillow."

This is what he said at the time:"Twenty-eight years ago, I had a two-year romantic relationship with a fellow college student that ended with inexcusable behavior on my part," Wu's statement said. "As a 21-year-old, I hurt someone I cared very much about. I take full responsibility for my actions and I am very sorry."

While I'm glad to hear that Wu thought rape was "inexcusable" I still don't like him as a congressman so I've been thinking of some good anti-Wu catch phrases to put on bumper stickers:

David Wu: stop holding a pillow over the face of the 1st congressional district while we scream for help

David Wu: you ended your college relationship by trying to rape someone, don't do the same to us during your lame duck sessionDavid Wu: just because Clinton was credibly accused of rape and still is politically viable doesn't mean that you are too

David Wu: stop attempting to rape our constitution

David Wu: you didn't take "no" for an answer when it came to sex but you can't hold a pillow over our votes

David Wu: I'm more worried about rapists than Klingons

David Wu: opposes the 2nd amendment because it allows rape victims to fight back

David Wu: supporting emergency contraception for rape victims because he doesn't want to worry about child support

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

A Sample Work Day:A Bilingual Library Assistant may, in this example, start the day at the nearby Migrant Head Start baby classroom sharing early literacy activities (books, songs and rhymes) with children 12 months and under, move to the toddler classroom, followed by activities with preschoolers. Afterward, the Library Assistant may go to the branch, unload the storytime traveling cart and answer questions (in both languages) at the reference desk. Bilingual Library Assistants should be prepared to talk about good books to read, school assignments and community resources. The position should also be ready to provide basic assistance with Internet searching and other library applications. This sample work day may conclude with another hour on the reference desk or giving a tour of the library to a parent group from the local grade school.

So for $22/hour plus generous benefits your job is to read books to children, unload a book cart, recommend books and show people how to use Google. A lot ofAmericans are looking for jobs but unless they are bilingual and are "culturally competent" there isn't a position for them in the library.

BONUS: See how many times you can find the word "diverse" on the job application webpage!

EXTRA BONUS: See how many crimes you can be the victim of in Multnomah County that won't be charged as crimes because the county government "doesn't have the money" to prosecute them!

Sunday, October 03, 2010

Thank you for contacting me about certain undocumented minors in the United States. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.

As you may know, Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois has introduced the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, S. 729. This bill would make undocumented minors eligible to become legal permanent residents provided that they came here as children, have lived in the U.S. for at least five years, have graduated from a U.S. high school, enlist in the military or attend college for at least two years, and have good moral character.

When the Senate last considered the DREAM Act, I voted to keep the legislative process moving and to have a full debate on the bill's merits. Unfortunately, the bill was blocked from being considered and during this process several interest groups advanced misconceptions about the bill. The DREAM Act is not amnesty.